If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Back from seeing the Surgeon in Toronto, I had a catscan there and was fitted for a Jewitt Brace. I have to leave it on except for sleeping.
And come back to see him in a month.
It is not very comfortable and hard to get up and down with it on. But at least it is not a solid brace so should not be as hot as the one Susan had to wear.
Doc said when this is healed I will be scheduled for my revision surgery. Can't wait to get this over with and get on with my life, I will be 70 tomorrow! Oh how time flies.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer.

Marianne
rotoscoliosis, subluxation and spinal stenosis
Surgery April 15, 2015 at age 67
T11-L5
Decompression with multiple discectomies
Concord cages @ L2-3, L3-4, L4-5
Osteotomies and local bone grafting
Need revision surgery and go down to S1
as the lumber part did not fuse.

Back from seeing the Surgeon in Toronto, I had a catscan there and was fitted for a Jewitt Brace. I have to leave it on except for sleeping.
And come back to see him in a month.
It is not very comfortable and hard to get up and down with it on. But at least it is not a solid brace so should not be as hot as the one Susan had to wear.
Doc said when this is healed I will be scheduled for my revision surgery. Can't wait to get this over with and get on with my life, I will be 70 tomorrow! Oh how time flies.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer.

Happy 70th Birthday! You caught up with me!
The good side of a brace is that it greatly decreases the fear that if you were in a car wreck or someone bumped into you at the supermarket, that it would hurt.
"It is what it is".
Hoping for a cool summer!
Sending you healing thoughts,
Susan

Still waiting.

It has now been 18 months since I was told I need revision surgery and still no date.
I spoke to my surgeon's secretary this morning and she told me it will be a while yet. They have no beds in the hospital, people are in halls and any where else they can put them. And that would not be acceptable after my surgery.
So we will just have to wait until there are beds and nurses available.
I am back to using a walker when going out, I can walk with a cane when we go visiting and mostly sitting around.
Sorry just needed to vent.
Ed I send you a PM yesterday.

Marianne
rotoscoliosis, subluxation and spinal stenosis
Surgery April 15, 2015 at age 67
T11-L5
Decompression with multiple discectomies
Concord cages @ L2-3, L3-4, L4-5
Osteotomies and local bone grafting
Need revision surgery and go down to S1
as the lumber part did not fuse.

Marianne
rotoscoliosis, subluxation and spinal stenosis
Surgery April 15, 2015 at age 67
T11-L5
Decompression with multiple discectomies
Concord cages @ L2-3, L3-4, L4-5
Osteotomies and local bone grafting
Need revision surgery and go down to S1
as the lumber part did not fuse.

Marianne, so sorry that your back has caused more problems and that surgery has been delayed. I have also had a roller coaster ride to a proxy of wellness. Take care of yourself and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Hoping that you have a surgery date soon.
Susan

Thanks Susan, yes you are trooper you have gone through more then any one else.
And always manage to keep cheery.i hope all will go well for you.

Marianne
rotoscoliosis, subluxation and spinal stenosis
Surgery April 15, 2015 at age 67
T11-L5
Decompression with multiple discectomies
Concord cages @ L2-3, L3-4, L4-5
Osteotomies and local bone grafting
Need revision surgery and go down to S1
as the lumber part did not fuse.

I am sorry to hear you have further complications- hope you get a date soon.

Life in UK as regards hospital appointments and surgical dates is pretty much the same. Due to flu and general lack of funding all routine/elected ops were cancelled for Jan 18 and no new dates given out yet for the re-scheduling ( or how in fact they will re-schedule.)

I was most interested in your actual appointment with your surgeon before he agreed to a further CT scan. I hear countless people in UK who after a fusion can get no-where with following up when they have pain. Revision surgery seems so rare here- in fact it and further scans etc. are actively discouraged and people have to go to such extreme lengths to get re-seen by their surgeon.

I am particularly scared as my consult is actively putting me off surgeon and has been doing for some years saying that surgery cannot help with pain- despite the fact that I now have 3 progressive curves and am in pain. I understand that surgery is not done for pain alone but I am very scared that at some point it will have to be done and then I will be left with no-one to help me if I have worse pain afterwards.

sorry to hijack thread a bit was I was interested in the routine follow ups that you guys have in US and how they compare?

I'm sorry you are struggling to get anywhere with revision in the UK. I'm not sure where you are but I am in the Midlands and have had multiple surgeries at the Spinal Unit at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre. They have always listened to me over the years and I have had no problems being referred for CT scans, MRI scans and whatever other diagnostic procedures are required.

Is it possible to ask your GP for a referral to another hospital for a second opinion?

I'm sorry you are struggling to get anywhere with revision in the UK. I'm not sure where you are but I am in the Midlands and have had multiple surgeries at the Spinal Unit at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre. They have always listened to me over the years and I have had no problems being referred for CT scans, MRI scans and whatever other diagnostic procedures are required.

Is it possible to ask your GP for a referral to another hospital for a second opinion?

Hi,

I have not had any surgery. I am merely recounting the many many experiences that are relayed on social media about people who have had surgery ending up being told to 'live with the pain' I am please that you have a good 'pathway' but many many people do not in the UK. There is simply no treatment and lots of people are just ending up at a dead end. It is particularly bad now with all the cuts to services.

I have not had any surgery. I am merely recounting the many many experiences that are relayed on social media about people who have had surgery ending up being told to 'live with the pain' I am please that you have a good 'pathway' but many many people do not in the UK. There is simply no treatment and lots of people are just ending up at a dead end. It is particularly bad now with all the cuts to services.

Burdle, We have pretty much the same sort of thing going on here in the states.... There have been posts recently about members struggling to have their insurance accepted. Doctors and hospitals want to get paid, and its not cheap, and it requires really good insurance. When I had my surgeries, I had the best insurance I could buy.

Now that I am cruising, not needing "immediate" surgery (for my neck) I have the cheap insurance......Why? Because elder males in the US get HAMMERED on medical insurance premiums. Its the stats.... It truly is insane what they want. I could make 2 house payments for what they want. I take the balance of the insurance savings money, and invest it. This will finance a gold plan a few years down the road should I need my neck fused.

If you need scoliosis surgery here in the states, you have to "time your insurance policies". If you are 30, and you can wait, you don't really need to buy a gold plan. If you think you are going to make a surgical decision within a year, it would be prudent to upgrade your insurance before surgery.

Young scoli's in the states that are surgical candidates need to plan way ahead.....DECADES AHEAD At least have an IRA, and if they can wait, possibly do a HSA to save for years leading into surgery. Health Savings Accounts offer many advantages....This stuff is really important!

I am thinking about starting a ROTH IRA for my goddaughters child. She is 6 weeks old.

Well this afternoon I received a call from my Surgeon's office. They now have a date for me.
Feb. 22 (that's only 3 weeks from today) yikes!
Very exited and nervous at the same time. But happy to get it over with and get on with my life
I am allowed to do my pre-op at my Doctor's here so will not have to make an extra trip to Toronto.
Thank you all for helping me through this waiting time.

Marianne
rotoscoliosis, subluxation and spinal stenosis
Surgery April 15, 2015 at age 67
T11-L5
Decompression with multiple discectomies
Concord cages @ L2-3, L3-4, L4-5
Osteotomies and local bone grafting
Need revision surgery and go down to S1
as the lumber part did not fuse.